Perennial herbs with rhizomes, often large-sized, usually aromatic. Leaves simple, placed in two rows, with a ligule and an open sheath; margin entire, venetion parallel; stipules absent. Inflorescences generally a terminal panicle, mostly on a leafless floral shoot. Flowers bilateral symmetric. Sepals 3, connate into a tube, persistent. Petals 3, basally connate. Fertile stamen 1, (in the cultivated genera often petaloid), the remainder are infertile stamens and connate into a large, petaloid lip (labellum). Ovary inferior, 3-locular, style 1, lying close to the stamen and embraced by the thecae, stigma 1; ovules few to many in each locule. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds arillate.
General info
Distribution About 53 genera with c. 1200 species, widespread in (sub)tropical regions of the world, especially in Indomalaya. Ecology Mostly in forest understoreys, but some species very common in disturbed habitats. Uses Medicinal, spices, ornamentals. Similar to Maranthaceae, but these are never aromatic and have sepals more or less free.
Curcuma flowers Perennial herbs with rhizomes, often large-sized, usually aromatic. Leaves simple, distichous, with a ligule and an open sheath; margin entire, venetion parallel; stipules absent. Inflorescences generally a terminal panicle, mostly on a leafless floral shoot. Flowers zygomorphic. Sepals 3, connate into a tube, persistent. Petals 3, basally connate. Fertile stamen 1, (in the cultivated genera often petaloid), the remainder of the androecium staminodial and connate into a large, petaloid lip (labellum). Ovary inferior, 3-locular, style 1, lying close to the stamen and embraced by the thecae, stigma 1; placentation axile, ovules few to many in each locule. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds arillate.
Family description
Perennial herbs with rhizomes, often large-sized, usually aromatic.Leaves simple, placed in two rows, with a ligule and an open sheath; margin entire, venetion parallel; stipules absent.
Inflorescences generally a terminal panicle, mostly on a leafless floral shoot.
Flowers bilateral symmetric. Sepals 3, connate into a tube, persistent. Petals 3, basally connate. Fertile stamen 1, (in the cultivated genera often petaloid), the remainder are infertile stamens and connate into a large, petaloid lip (labellum). Ovary inferior, 3-locular, style 1, lying close to the stamen and embraced by the thecae, stigma 1; ovules few to many in each locule.
Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds arillate.
General info
Distribution About 53 genera with c. 1200 species, widespread in (sub)tropical regions of the world, especially in Indomalaya.Ecology Mostly in forest understoreys, but some species very common in disturbed habitats.
Uses Medicinal, spices, ornamentals.
Similar to Maranthaceae, but these are never aromatic and have sepals more or less free.
Treated genera
Monocots.pdf
Alpinia sp
Curcuma sp
Curcuma flowers
Perennial herbs with rhizomes, often large-sized, usually aromatic. Leaves simple, distichous, with a ligule and an open sheath; margin entire, venetion parallel; stipules absent. Inflorescences generally a terminal panicle, mostly on a leafless floral shoot. Flowers zygomorphic. Sepals 3, connate into a tube, persistent. Petals 3, basally connate. Fertile stamen 1, (in the cultivated genera often petaloid), the remainder of the androecium staminodial and connate into a large, petaloid lip (labellum). Ovary inferior, 3-locular, style 1, lying close to the stamen and embraced by the thecae, stigma 1; placentation axile, ovules few to many in each locule. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds arillate.